Co-Cured UV/Visible Light-Resistant Composite Material for Structural Aircraft Assembly

ABSTRACT

Co-curable and co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite materials are disclosed with UV/visible light protection exclusively imparted to a co-curable composite material substrate assembly by a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer disposed to cover the co-curable and co-cured composite material substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 17/708,128 filed Mar. 30, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of composite materials, and composite materials used for manufacturing large structural components. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the field of composite materials used for structural materials for interior and exterior surfaces of large structural aircraft components.

BACKGROUND

The use of composite materials in the manufacture of various structural component parts continues to increase. At least due to the strength-to-weight ratios, composite materials offer advantages as replacements for denser materials, such as, for example, metals, metal alloys, etc., where the overall weight of a completed structure (or the weight of a component part of a completed structure) is an important consideration in the selection of materials used in the manufacture of such a completed structure, or in the manufacture of a component of a completed structure.

Coating layers applied to composite materials are not as durable as, or have the longevity of, the composite materials to which such coating layers are applied. Composite material assemblies may otherwise comprise external or internal layers that can include, for example, protective coatings or other coating layers. For example, when composite materials are used in the fabrication of vehicles including, for example, aircraft, exterior paint coatings, referred to as an aircraft “livery”, may require alteration, rework, change of logo, design, color scheme, etc., over the useful life of the vehicle. Such livery alteration, for example, may include the removal of one or more decorative coating layers applied onto a composite material, including, for example, one or more paint layers. However, the removal of one layer or layer type (paint, primer, adhesion promoting layer, adhesive layer, etc.) from materials stacked onto a composite material can require the removal of additional layers or layer types that then must be built back up, or otherwise reconstituted. In addition, livery alteration requiring paint removal via use of paint removal techniques can damage underlying layers, or even damage composite materials, if the composite materials are exposed to excessive mechanical paint removal techniques.

Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted as prior art merely by its inclusion in the Technological Field and/or Background section.

SUMMARY

Present aspects are disclosed that are directed to co-curable and co-cured composite materials comprising a co-curable or co-cured layer of UV/visible light-resistant layer immediately contacting the co-curable composite structural material substrate. The incorporation into the composite structural material substrate of the co-curable/co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer, that can, for example, significantly impact composite material manufacture and improve the performance and reduce the weight of the structural composite material by at least obviating the need to include separate UV/visible light-resistant coatings formerly applied to composite material substrates, such as, in the preparation of a composite material system used in structural assemblies for larger components, including internal and exterior surfaces of vehicles, including, for example, aircraft.

According to a present aspect, a co-curable composite material assembly is disclosed comprising a co-curable composite material substrate, with the co-curable composite material substrate comprising a co-curable composite material substrate first side and a co-curable composite material substrate second side, and a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer, with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer second side, with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof, and wherein the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer has a co-curable UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils.

In another aspect, said co-curable UV/visible light-resistant coating layer comprises fiberglass fibers.

In another aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate is co-curable with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer at a temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F.

In another aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a carbon fiber reinforced polymer.

In another aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate comprises an epoxy resin-based compound and the co-curable composite material substrate further comprises at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof.

In a further aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a plurality of carbon fiber reinforced polymer prepregs.

In another aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate second side is in direct contact with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and wherein the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer completely covers the co-curable composite material substrate second side.

According to another present aspect, a co-cured composite material assembly is disclosed comprising a co-cured composite material substrate, with the co-cured composite material substrate comprising a co-cured composite material substrate first side and a co-cured composite material substrate second side, a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer, with the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer second side, with the said co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof, and wherein the co-cured composite material substrate and the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer are configured to be co-cured in a co-curing regimen, with the co-curing regimen comprising a co-curing temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F., and wherein the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer has a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils.

In another aspect, said co-cured UV/visible light-resistant coating layer comprises fiberglass fibers.

In another aspect, the co-cured composite material substrate comprises a fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix, with the fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix comprising at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the co-cured composite material substrate comprises a plurality of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material prepregs.

In another aspect, the inclusion of the co-curable and then subsequently the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer in the co-curable and then subsequently the co-cured composite material assembly obviates the presence of at least one of a detail primer layer and a UV-absorbing paint layer in a final co-cured composite material assembly.

In a further aspect, a structure is disclosed, with the structure comprising a co-cured composite material assembly including a co-cured composite material substrate, with the co-cured composite material substrate comprising a co-cured composite material substrate first side and a co-cured composite material substrate second side, and a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer, with the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer second side, with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof, and wherein the co-cured composite material substrate and the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer are configured to be co-cured in a co-curing regimen, with the co-curing regimen comprising a co-curing temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F., and wherein the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer has a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils.

In another aspect, the structure comprises at least one of an aircraft wing assembly, an aircraft horizontal stabilizer assembly, a vertical stabilizer assembly, and combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the structure comprises an aircraft wing assembly.

In a further aspect, the inclusion of the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer in the co-cured composite material assembly obviates the need for the presence of at least one of a detail primer layer and a UV-absorbing paint layer in a final co-cured composite material assembly.

In another aspect, the structure comprises an aircraft wing assembly outer mold line, with the UV/visible light-resistant layer second side configured to support at least one of an assembly primer and a topcoat.

In another aspect, the structure is a vehicle.

In a further aspect, the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a crewed aircraft, an uncrewed aircraft, a crewed spacecraft, an uncrewed spacecraft, a crewed rotorcraft, an uncrewed rotorcraft, a crewed terrestrial vehicle, an uncrewed terrestrial vehicle, a crewed surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed waterborne vehicle, a crewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, a satellite, and combinations thereof.

In another present aspect, a method is disclosed, with the method including providing a co-curable composite material substrate, with the co-curable composite material substrate comprising a co-curable composite material substrate first side and a co-curable composite material substrate second side, applying a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer onto the co-curable composite material substrate second side, with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof, and with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer having a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils. The method further includes co-curing the co-curable composite material substrate with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer to form a co-cured composite material assembly for an aircraft structure.

In another aspect, the co-cured composite material assembly comprises an outer mold line.

In a further aspect, the co-cured composite material assembly formed according to the disclosed method does not comprise a UV/visible light-resistant paint or UV/visible light-resistant primer layer located within the co-cured composite material assembly.

In another aspect, the method further includes co-curing the co-curable composite material substrate with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer at a co-curing temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F. to form a cured composite material assembly for an aircraft structure, with the aircraft structure including at least one of an aircraft wing assembly, a horizontal stabilizer assembly, a vertical stabilizer assembly, and combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer is applied as a single ply to the co-curable carbon fiber.

In another aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material substrate.

In another aspect, the co-cured composite material substrate comprises a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material substrate.

In another aspect, the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix, with the fiber reinforced epoxy matrix comprising at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the co-cured composite material substrate comprises a fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix, with the fiber reinforced epoxy matrix comprising at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof.

In further aspects, structures comprising the co-cured composite material assembly made according to disclosed present methods are disclosed.

The features, functions and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various aspects or may be combined in yet other aspects, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described aspects of the disclosure in general terms, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a vehicle in the form of an aircraft, according to present aspects;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a UV/visible light-resistant co-curable composite material, according to present aspects;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a UV/visible light-resistant cured composite material, according to present aspects

FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a UV/visible light-resistant cured composite material system with a reduced detail primer layer and without the presence of a separate UV/visible light-resistant paint layer required, according to present aspects;

FIG. 2D is an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a UV/visible light-resistant cured composite material system without the presence of either a detail primer layer or a separate UV/visible light-resistant paint layer required, according to present aspects; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart outlining a method, according to present aspects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Material layers that can be applied as, for example, coatings can be added to a composite material surface for the purpose of changing the surface characteristics of a composite material. For example, primers or other coating layers can be added to a composite material to improve adhesion of subsequent coating layers such as, for example, paints, topcoats, etc., to a composite material surface that may already have one or more other coatings applied. The layering of coating materials onto composite material surfaces is labor intensive, time-consuming and can add substantial weight to large objects and large structures that include such composite materials having multiple coating layers.

In addition, paint removal processes that remove various paint coating layers from composite materials often damage protective surfacing layers applied to composite materials and that are applied beneath paint coating layers can require significant resurfacing once the paint layers are stripped from the surfacing layers. For example, one or more of the composite material coating layers can each require separate surfacing preparation steps and procedures prior to the subsequent deposition of one or more coating layers onto composite material surfaces. In some instances, a portion of one or more previously deposited coating must be removed, or otherwise reworked, before adding further coating layers. Such intermediate reworking of composite material surfaces during the treatment of composite material surfaces is also labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly.

During the fabrication of composite material parts that can include for example, an epoxy resin-based composite material, a carbon fiber reinforced polymer material, etc., composite material surfaces can begin to degrade at the composite material surface due to exposure to ambient ultraviolet/visible light (UV/visible light) radiation. To avoid a change in surface characteristic of a composite material that can be caused, at least in part, by composite material exposure to UV/visible light radiation, composite material surfaces are often protected with polymeric coverings or coated with at least one protective layer such as, for example, a spray applied surfacer, a primer layer, etc., with the protective layer containing, for example, a UV “blocking” agent.

Applying UV mitigation, or “blocking” agents in layers to composite surfaces often adds manufacturing complexity in the form of, at least, increasing manufacturing time, increasing rework time, increasing overall production cost, etc., as such applied UV blocking material coverings typically are removed from the composite material or reactivated chemically or mechanically before additional composite material assembly processing is conducted. In addition primer and surfacing film layers are often treated to accommodate a subsequent paint layer or topcoat. This treatment of individual subsequent layers added to a composite material system (that can be layers arranged into a “stack” on the composite material substrate) again leads to increased manufacturing time, increased rework time, increased overall production cost, etc.

Composite materials are typically post-processed or “reworked”, for example, to re-paint and/or resurface composite materials. For example, primers and paint coatings that include a UV mitigation, or a UV “blocking” agent can be applied to a composite material surface for the purpose of protecting a composite material surface from degradation and/or discoloration that can be caused, for example, by exposing the composite material to ultraviolet/visible light (UV/visible light) radiation during the use of the composite material as a construction material in the manufacture of, for example, a larger structure.

In addition, UV/visible light damage from UV/visible light wavelengths impacting coating layers used to coat composite materials and/or impacting underlying composite materials during aircraft manufacture and aircraft use can cause a composite material to require material rework. Exposure to UV/visible light radiation can alter a material's characteristic over time. For example, UV/visible light radiation can render a coating layer or composite material vulnerable to processing damage, such as, for example, when a layer or composite material is exposed to, for example, a mechanical paint removal technique. Material layer selection for large structures to guard against environmental damage, including UV/visible light damage, can result in a required application of a series of coating layers, with each such coating layer application resulting in a significant amount of time, expense, and resulting added weight to large structures including, for example, aircraft (where weight considerations can further impact fuel usage, cargo and passenger capacity, aircraft range, etc.).

Present aspects are disclosed that are directed to co-curable and co-cured composite materials comprising a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer or co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer immediately contacting the co-curable or co-cured composite material substrate. The incorporation into the composite material substrate of the co-cured and co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer significantly impacts composite material manufacture and improves the performance and reduces the weight of the structural composite material by at least obviating the need to include separate UV-resistant coatings formerly applied to composite material substrates, such as for the protection of composite materials from UV/visible light damage, and in the preparation of a composite material system used in structural assemblies for larger components, including internal and exterior surfaces of vehicles, including, for example, aircraft.

According to present aspects, methods for improving the UV/visible light protection and reducing UV/visible light degradation of composite material substrate surface are disclosed, as well as composite material substrates having improved UV/visible light protection without the previously required presence of typically applied protective coverings or layers of primers or separate layers of, for example, UV-absorbing paint. In addition to preventing UV/visible light degradation of underlying composite material substrate surfaces, presently disclosed methods, systems, and apparatuses eliminate the need for protective coverings, protective primer layers, UV-absorbing paint layers, with the result being a reduction in a composite material system complexity and overall composite material system weight that further reduces composite material processing time. The reduction in composite material UV/visible light degradation further decreases the occurrence of the need for composite material rework (required by such UV/visible light degradation).

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a vehicle in the form of an aircraft, according to present aspects. As shown in FIG. 1 , aircraft 10 includes wing assemblies 12, horizontal stabilizer assemblies 14, and vertical stabilizer assembly 16 with the presently disclosed composite materials configured to form and otherwise be configured to various aircraft assemblies including those shown in FIG. 1 .

According to present aspects a composite material substrate is provided that can comprise an epoxy resin-based composite material in combination with a fiber matrix that can include carbon fibers, boron, fiber, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof, with carbon fibers being particularly preferred, and with a carbon fiber reinforced polymer being particularly preferred as the composite material substrate.

According to further presently disclosed aspects, a composite material for use in the manufacture of a composite material structure further includes a UV/visible light-resistant layer (equivalently referred to herein as a UV/visible light-inhibiting layer) with the UV/visible light-resistant layer in the form of a layer that can be, for example, a single ply. According to further present aspects, the UV/visible light-resistant layer is provided to be intimate contact with the composite material substrate material, with the composite material substrate being co-curable with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer. The co-curable and co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer can comprise at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof.

The composite material substrate, also referred to equivalently herein as the base layer or the underlayer, or the composite material substrate layer can be a co-curable composite material that can be an epoxy resin-based material, including fiber reinforced polymer composite materials that can have an epoxy resin-based matrix, and that can include carbon fiber reinforced composite materials. In present aspects, the co-curable composite material can be any suitable composite material that can be co-cured with a co-curable material layer at a temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F.

Composite materials are often layered into laminates that have a selected number of composite material layers, often called “prepregs”. Prepregs can be “pre-impregnated” composite fibers where a matrix material, such as an epoxy resin-based material, is already present. The fibers often take the form of a weave and the matrix is used to bond them together and to other components during manufacture. The composite matrix material is typically partially cured to allow easy handling. Such composite matrix material may require cooled or cold storage to prevent further partial curing, or complete curing, and such composite matrix material is referred to as B-Stage material. Consequently, B-Stage prepregs are stored in cooled or cold storage areas, as ambient heat can accelerate complete polymerization. Prepregs also allow one to impregnate a bulk amount of fiber and then store the prepreg in cooled or cold storage areas for an extended time until a later cure. Prepreg plies may be applied to tools which are flat or contoured depending upon the fabrication process used. Multiple layers of prepreg plies are used to make a desired shape using shaping or forming tools, also called mandrels. Present aspects contemplate, but are not limited to, the use of laid up layers of composite material prepregs to form the co-curable and co-cured composite material substrate.

According to present aspects, a “co-curable” material is defined as a material that can be co-cured with another material such that the two co-curable materials will co-cure when exposed to common curing conditions, such as those that can be imposed by a predetermined curing regimen (predetermined temperature, pressure, ramp up temperatures/rates, dwell periods, etc.) to form a “co-cured” composition.

According to present aspects, a selected degree of UV/visible light-resistance and UV/visible light-protection can be exclusively imparted to the composite material substrate by immediately contacting a co-curable composite material surface with a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer that after co-curing forms a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant coated composite material. That is, according to present aspects, previously required UV/visible light-resistant primers, UV-blocking paints, etc., can be eliminated and their presence is otherwise obviated as their UV protection function within a UV/visible light-resistant composite material is exclusively satisfied by the addition and placement of a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer that is provided in immediate contact with the co-curable composite material substrate.

By co-curing the UV/visible light-resistant layer with the composite material, advantages are imparted by the presently disclosed co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer at least to the underlying epoxy-based composite material as well as to the final co-cured composite material substrate and any composite structural material substrate that incorporates the co-cured composite material substrate. According to present aspects, such imparted advantages include, without limitation, the UV/visible light protection of the epoxy-based composite material, and protection of a composite material substrate from deleterious effects of mechanical paint removal techniques, etc.

In addition, the robustness of the presently disclosed co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer that is co-cured onto, for example, a co-curable epoxy-based composite material substrate can endure subsequent and repeated heat treatments that may be required during subsequent and repeated repainting protocols. That is, unlike some currently required repainting protocols, the presently described co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer need not be replaced, removed, or otherwise reapplied during reworking, paint removal, repainting, repeated heat treatments, etc. That is, present aspects contemplate the removal or reconditioning of only the layers coated atop the presently disclosed co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer (e.g., topcoat layers, basecoat layers, clearcoat layers, intermediate coating layers, etc.).

Through the use of the presently disclosed co-cured UV/visible light-resistant coated composite material substrate, a significant number of procedural steps that are otherwise, and have previously been, required during re-painting or reworking a composite material substrate are obviated; resulting in a substantial reduction in resources including, for example, material cost for replacing UV/visible light-damaged layers, manpower hours previously required for individual layer application treatment (e.g., individual layer pre-treatment surfacing steps, layer application steps, layer post-treatment surfacing steps, including chemical application, physical surfacing treatments such as, including sanding, etc., inspection of deposited layers, etc.).

According to present aspects, FIG. 2A shows an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a co-curable composite material assembly 20 a consisting of a co-curable composite material substrate 22 a with a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 a disposed onto the co-curable composite material 22 a. According to present aspects the co-curable composite assembly 20 a can be co-cured to form a co-cured composite material. The co-curable composite material 20 a can be subjected to a co-curing regimen where the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 a disposed onto the co-curable composite material substrate 22 a are co-cured at a curing temperature less than 410° F., and more preferably at a temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F. for a suitable duration to co-cure the two components to form a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material. As shown in FIG. 2A, the co-curable composite material substrate 22 a can be a co-curable carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material substrate that can further be a co-curable epoxy resin-based composite material substrate.

FIG. 2B shows a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material 20 b that is formed from the uncured components shown in FIG. 2A, and in the cured state as shown in FIG. 2B include a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 b co-cured with the co-cured composite material substrate 22 b. According to present aspects, the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 b can be a single ply, or can be more than one ply, with the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 b able to exclusively impart (i.e., is essentially 100% responsible for imparting) a selected degree of UV/visible light protection to the underlying co-cured composite material substrate 22 b such that the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer has a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils.

According to present aspects, the UV/visible light-resistant layer is selected to have a UV/visible light resistance characteristic and value, such that the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer alone is solely responsible for imparting the degree of UV/visible light-resistance and UV/visible light protection to the underlying epoxy resin-based composite material. That is, according to present aspects, the UV/visible blocking capabilities of the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer eliminate the need for, render redundant, and otherwise obviate the presence of any additional UV/visible light-resistant layer in a composite material system including, for example, UV/visible light-resistant paints, UV/visible light-resistant primers, UV/visible light-resistant topcoats, as well as obviating the need for incorporating UV/visible light-blocking agents into the containing material substrate. Instead, the entire UV/visible light-blocking function for the presently disclosed co-cured composite material assemblies, and structures incorporating the presently disclosed co-cured composite material assemblies are completely satisfied by the UV/visible light-blocking capabilities introduced to the resulting cured composite material assembly by the UV/visible light-resistant layer, that can be, for example, a single ply UV/visible light-resistant layer. Again, according to present aspects, no additional UV/visible light-resistant layers are needed to achieve the desired and selected UV/visible light-blocking function for the presently disclosed co-cured composite material assemblies.

According to present aspects, the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assemblies of the type shown in FIG. 2B can be used as structural composite materials for the manufacture of structural components and structural component assemblies of vehicles, including, for example, an aircraft wing assembly, an aircraft horizontal stabilizer, and an aircraft vertical stabilizer. Accordingly, when configured as various aircraft structural composite materials, the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assemblies 20 b of the type shown in FIG. 2B are configured to accept and otherwise facilitate the application of various primer and topcoat layers that will either become a part of, or precede the formation of an exterior of a large structural assembly such as, for example an aircraft livery on a large structural assembly for an aircraft.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 c in the form of a material system that further includes the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly layers shown in FIG. 2B (as assembly 20 b). That is, FIG. 2C shows a co-cured composite material substrate 22 c with the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 c disposed onto the co-cured epoxy resin composite material substrate 22 c. As further shown in FIG. 2C, and according to present aspects, the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly does not contain any further UV/visible light-resistant material (e.g., in the form of UV/visible light-resistant primer layer(s) or UV/visible light-resistant paint layer(s), etc.). That is, as shown in FIG. 2C, and according to present aspects, the UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 c is solely responsible for imparting UV/visible light-resistance to the UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 c (e.g., inhibiting UV/visible light radiation from passing through the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer to the underlying co-cured composite material substrate).

The co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 c as shown in FIG. 2C further comprises a detail primer layer 25 c, an assembly primer layer 26 c and a topcoat layer 28 c covering the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 c. According to present aspects, the average thickness of the detail primer layer is greatly reduced from the amount and layer thickness of detail primer previously required for known composite material assemblies. More specifically, the present co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assemblies comprising the UV/visible light-resistant layer can facilitate reducing the thickness of, or eliminating the presence of, an initial primer. Such reduction in thickness or elimination of the initial primer can result in a significant weight reduction, cost reduction, processing time reduction, rework time reduction, man/hour labor reduction, and required material reduction due to the scale of a large structure having large structure assemblies including, for example, aircraft.

FIG. 2D is an enlarged cross-sectional representative side view of a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 d in the form of a composite material assembly that further includes the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly layers shown in FIG. 2B (as assembly 20 b). That is, FIG. 2D shows a co-cured composite material substrate 22 d with the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 d disposed onto the co-cured composite material substrate 22 d. As further shown in FIG. 2D, and according to present aspects, the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly does not contain any further UV/visible light-resistant material in the form of UV/visible light-resistant primer layer(s) or UV/visible light-resistant paint layer(s). That is, as shown in FIG. 2D, and according to present aspects, the UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 d is solely responsible for imparting UV/visible light-resistance to the UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 d (e.g., inhibiting UV/visible light radiation from passing through the UV/visible light-resistant layer to the composite material substrate).

The co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 d as shown in FIG. 2D does not comprise a detail primer layer, such as the detail primer layer 25 c as shown in FIG. 2C. Co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly 20 d as shown in FIG. 2D further comprises an assembly primer layer 26 d and a topcoat layer 28 d covering the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer 24 d. According to present aspects, obviating and otherwise eliminating the detail primer layer from the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly greatly reduces the composite material preparation complexity, and can represent a significant weight reduction, cost reduction, processing time reduction, rework time reduction, man/hour labor reduction, and required material reduction due to the scale of a large structure having large structure assemblies including, for example, aircraft. As shown in FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D, the co-cured composite material substrate can be a co-cured carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material substrate that can further be a co-cured epoxy resin-based composite material substrate.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart outlining methods for making the presently disclosed co-curable and co-cured composite materials. Further present aspects contemplate co-curable composite materials and co-cured composite materials, assemblies comprising the co-cured composite materials, sub-assemblies comprising the co-cured composite materials, and structures comprising at least one of the assemblies and/or sub-assemblies comprising the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite materials that are made according to the methods set forth herein, including, for example, crewed aircraft, an uncrewed aircraft, a crewed spacecraft, an uncrewed spacecraft, a crewed rotorcraft, an uncrewed rotorcraft, a crewed terrestrial vehicle, an uncrewed terrestrial vehicle, a crewed surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed waterborne vehicle, a crewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, a satellite, and combinations thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4 , method 100 is outlined, with method 100 comprising providing 102 a co-curable composite material substrate that can be a co-curable carbon fiber reinforced polymer material substrate and can further be a co-curable epoxy resin-based fiber reinforced composite material substrate. Method 100 further comprises positioning and applying 104 a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer onto the co-curable composite material layer that can be a co-curable epoxy resin-based composite substrate material, and that can further be a carbon fiber reinforced polymer. According to present aspects, the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer can be a single ply, and that can be a plurality of plies, such that the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer has a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils. The co-curable UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly comprising the UV/visible light-resistant layer can be of the type shown and described at least in FIGS. 2A, 2C, and described herein. Method 100 further comprises co-curing the co-curable composite material layer that can be a co-curable epoxy resin-based composite material substrate with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer at a temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F. to form a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite material assembly of the type shown and described at least in FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D, and described herein.

Present aspects contemplate co-curable and co-cured UV/visible light-resistant composite materials that comprise a UV/visible light-resistant layer in intimate contact with a composite material substrate including, (for example a carbon fiber reinforced polymer material substrate, and that can further be an epoxy resin-based composite material substrate), in a composite assembly useful in the fabrication of vehicles and vehicle assemblies including, for example, aircraft wing assemblies, horizontal stabilizer assemblies, vertical stabilizer assemblies, fuselages, fuel tanks within wing assemblies, nacelles, and other aircraft structures and structural components comprising a composite material.

The present aspects may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the present disclosure. The present aspects are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A co-curable composite material assembly comprising: a co-curable composite material substrate, said co-curable composite material substrate comprising a co-curable composite material substrate first side and a co-curable composite material substrate second side; a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer, said co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer second side, said co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof; and wherein the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer has a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils.
 2. The co-curable composite material assembly of claim 1, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate is co-curable with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer at a temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F.
 3. The co-curable composite material assembly of claim 1, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
 4. The co-curable composite material assembly of claim 1, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate comprises an epoxy resin-based compound and the co-curable composite material substrate further comprises at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof.
 5. The co-curable composite material assembly of claim 1, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a plurality of carbon fiber reinforced polymer prepregs.
 6. The co-curable composite material assembly of claim 1, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate second side is in direct contact with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and wherein the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer completely covers the co-curable composite material substrate second side.
 7. A co-cured composite material assembly comprising: a co-cured composite material substrate, said co-cured composite material substrate comprising a composite material substrate first side and a composite material substrate second side; a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer, said co-cured UV-resistant layer comprising a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer first side and a co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer second side, said co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof; wherein the co-cured composite material substrate and the co-cured UV-resistant layer are co-cured in a co-curing regimen, said co-curing regimen comprising a co-curing temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 410° F.; and wherein the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer has a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils.
 8. The co-cured composite material assembly of claim 7, wherein the co-cured composite material substrate comprises a fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix, said fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix comprising at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof.
 9. The co-cured composite material assembly of claim 7, wherein the co-cured composite material substrate comprises a plurality of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material prepregs.
 10. The co-cured composite material assembly of claim 7, wherein the inclusion of said co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer in the co-cured composite material assembly obviates the presence of at least one of a detail primer layer and a UV/visible light-absorbing paint layer in a final co-cured composite material assembly.
 11. A structure comprising the co-cured composite material assembly of claim 7, said structure comprising an aircraft wing assembly outer mold line, said co-cured UV/visible light-resistant layer second side configured to support at least one of an assembly primer and a topcoat.
 12. A structure comprising the co-cured composite material assembly of claim 7, said structure comprising at least one of an aircraft wing assembly, an aircraft horizontal stabilizer assembly, a vertical stabilizer assembly, and combinations thereof.
 13. A structure comprising the co-cured composite material assembly of claim 7, said structure comprising an aircraft wing assembly.
 14. A vehicle comprising the structure of claim
 12. 15. A vehicle comprising the structure of claim
 13. 16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: a crewed aircraft, an uncrewed aircraft, a crewed spacecraft, an uncrewed spacecraft, a crewed rotorcraft, an uncrewed rotorcraft, a crewed terrestrial vehicle, an uncrewed terrestrial vehicle; a crewed surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed waterborne vehicle, a crewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, a satellite, and combinations thereof.
 17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: a crewed aircraft, an uncrewed aircraft, a crewed spacecraft, an uncrewed spacecraft, a crewed rotorcraft, an uncrewed rotorcraft, a crewed terrestrial vehicle, an uncrewed terrestrial vehicle; a crewed surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed waterborne vehicle, a crewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, an uncrewed sub-surface water borne vehicle, a satellite, and combinations thereof.
 18. A method comprising: providing a co-curable composite material substrate, said co-curable composite material substrate comprising a composite material substrate first side and a composite material substrate second side; applying a co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer onto composite material substrate second side, said co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprising at least one of fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, quartz, and combinations thereof, said co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer having a UV/visible light transmittance value ranging from about 0% to about 20% UV/visible light transmittance for UV/visible light wavelengths ranging from about 200 nm to about 800 nm when the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer comprises an average thickness ranging from about 2 mils to about 6 mils; and co-curing the co-curable composite material substrate with the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer to form a co-cured composite material assembly for an aircraft structure.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the co-cured composite material assembly does not comprise a UV/visible light-resistant paint or UV/visible light-resistant primer layer.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the co-curable UV/visible light-resistant layer is applied as a single ply to the co-curable composite material substrate.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material substrate.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the co-curable composite material substrate comprises a fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix, said fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix comprising at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, aramid fibers, fiberglass fibers, polyester fibers, and combinations thereof. 